Births on January 10

John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton

Born on January 10, 1834

John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton, Italian-English historian and politician (d. 1902)

John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton, 13th Marquess of Groppoli, (10 January 1834 – 19 June 1902), better known as Lord Acton, was an English Catholic historian, politician, and writer. He was the only son of Sir Ferdinand Dalberg-Acton, 7th Baronet, and a grandson of the Neapolitan admiral and prime minister Sir John Acton, 6th Baronet. Between 1837 and 1869 he was known as Sir John Dalberg-Acton, 8th Baronet.

He is perhaps best known for the remark, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men...", which he made in a letter to an Anglican bishop.

References

John Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton

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Events on 1834

29 Apr

Second voyage of HMS Beagle
Charles Darwin during the second survey voyage of HMS Beagle, ascended the Bell mountain, Cerro La Campana on 17 August 1834, his visit being commemorated by a memorial plaque.[1]
1 Aug

Slavery Abolition Act 1833
Slavery is abolished in the British Empire as the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 comes into force.
16 Oct

Burning of Parliament
Much of the ancient structure of the Palace of Westminster in London burns to the ground.
1 Dec

Slavery Abolition Act 1833
Slavery is abolished in the Cape Colony in accordance with the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.